Don’t let the juice from your maraschino cherry jar go to waste! Make this deliciously gorgeous Maraschino Cherry Frosting instead! Perfect on cupcakes, cookies, cake and more!
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After posting several cherry recipes recently, I figured you guys might be wondering what I’m doing with all the juice from the maraschino cherry jars. Trust me, that stuff does not go to waste around here.
This past weekend we made cherry milkshakes (recipe coming this summer!) and today I’m sharing my favorite cherry frosting recipe made with maraschino cherry juice. The juice adds a “natural” pretty pink color to the frosting without having to add food coloring and it’s the perfect way to use up some of that delicious juice!
This recipe is delightfully easy and the frosting goes well on just about everything: cupcakes, cakes, cookies, you name it!
Perfect on vanilla or chocolate cupcakes, this frosting is equally delicious on graham crackers on vanilla wafers. Plus, we often enjoy just eating with a spoon 🙂
The consistency is usually spot-on for me but if it’s a little thick for you, just add additional cherry juice, one teaspoon at a time to thin it out. The bonus in that is you get an even prettier pink frosting.
I used almond extract for the frosting instead of vanilla extract for two reasons; one, it’s clear so it doesn’t muddle the pretty pink color and two, cherry and almond go together so perfectly!
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Maraschino Cherry Frosting
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 2 lbs powdered sugar
- 6 Tbsp juice from maraschino cherry jar plus more if needed
- 1 tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Beat softened butter in a large mixing bowl until completely smooth and fluffy.
- Gradually beat in about two cup of powdered sugar.
- Beat in the maraschino cherry juice and almond extract until completely combined.
- Gradually beat in the rest of the powdered sugar, about a cup at a time.
- If your frosting is too thick, beat in additional maraschino cherry juice one teaspoon at a time.
Nutrition
Love cherries as much as we do? Check out these recipes!
Triple Chocolate Cherry Brownies
For all caramel recipes, go HERE.
For all dessert recipes, go HERE.
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Bo says
Absolutely delicious! I added some almond extract to white cake mix for cupcakes, and frosted with this great frosting. Everyone in household raved, from 74 down to 6 years old. We loved it!
Natalie says
I made this recipe for a birthday party two weeks ago. I followed the recipe exactly, but to stiffen it up enough to pipe, I had to add a whole extra pound of powdered sugar. And it never tasted very cherry-ish. I played with it and added 3 more tablespoons and still barely tasted the cherry. A couple days later I made sugar cookies and puréed the cherries and added it to leftover frosting, still only faint cherry taste. I was very disappointed. On the stiffening issue, I have one thought, real butter vs margarine, the was no specification so I used margarine which I had on hand.
Pegs says
Margarine is a naughty word in the baking world. You will always use real butter.
Frances Pulley says
You know I have bought Walkins flavoring they have a clear vanilla and a cherry. So you can use in the cherry frosting.Blair ,Lynchbrug,Va.24505 /Div. of chap stick co. and also Happy Home flavoring. Southern Flavoring Co. Bedford, Va.24523 Both this company’s sell all kinds of flavorings. It has been a while since I have bought any from them. From Ms.France. I will try your recipes. I just found you . Happy baking….
Nancy says
I make a cherry nut cake 2 layers with cherries and one with nuts . I use the juice and cherries in the cake and in the frosting Also add some powdered cherry kool-aid in the frosting along with the juice and cherries really enhances the flavor’
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Sounds amazing! I’m all about cherry desserts!
sundry debtors says
It’s amazing Lauren! And so pretty! <3
edie Gardner says
where is the rescripe for theeasy valentines day patties every time I click on it it comes up frosting
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Here it is Edie: http://www.momontimeout.com/2014/01/easy-valentines-day-patties/
Wendyta says
It is so perfect! Thanks for sharing ?
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Thank you!
Aften says
This is the first frosting I have ever been able to master! THANK YOU! It’s perfect and tasty!
Rose says
Is there an alternative to the almond extract, or can it just be omitted? I know people with severe nut allergies.
Donteatmenooo says
Just to let you know, the reason almond extract goes so well with maraschino cherry juice is because maraschino cherries are actually almond-flavored! So this recipe will likely make an almond-flavored icing with maybe a hint of cherry. Which sounds delicious! But be aware that it will likely not actually taste like cherries, but like maraschino cherries which taste like almond. 🙂
Another way to use the leftover juice is to mix it with some milk! Almond/cherry flavored pink milk is delicious!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I can’t wait to try it with milk – thanks for the suggestion!
Sarah says
I was so excited to put this on my cherry chip cake as the perfect pair of frosting. This frosting is SO sweet, you can hardly even taste the cherry flavor. Just tastes like “wanna-be” cherry frosting. A little disappointed, still yummy, just not very cherry.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Hmmm…mine tasted pretty cherry-ish to me 🙂 Maybe a few drops of cherry extract would help? And yep, this is definitely a sweet frosting…
Shannan A. says
This sounds amazing! Have you ever used the bottled grenadine? I’ve also found just bottled maraschino syrup. I love it for limeade’s. Can’t wait to try this one!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
I haven’t but I bet it would be awesome!
Tess says
I made these with dark chocolate cupakes! Perfect for valentine’s day! The cupcakes by themselves are delicious! Thank you for the post!
Tess says
I mean the frosting was delicious! lol 🙂 great way to use leftover cherry juice totally yum!
Cherie says
Is 2lb of sugar the right measurement??
Sounds like way too much. Just a typo?
Thanks
Debbie says
Trisha, this sounds wonderful. Is this a frosting that could be used in a piping bag? I would love to make a Petal Cake using this. Thanks for all of your wonderful posts.
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh my goodness YES Debbie! It’s perfect for a piping bag!
Elizabeth says
Yummy Yummy Yummy!! I love this recipe! Very good! 🙂 two thumbs up!I would recommend this recipe for every one! When I made this I tried it and I couldn’t stop tasting it! Everything goes together perfectly! 🙂
Heidi says
Could you use the juice from canned cherries?
Kimberle C C says
I just tried the cherry frosting recipe that was with cupcakes I made for my granbabies and it was awful I couldn’t wait to get the taste out of my mouth seriously. I don’t know maybe I did something wrong. But yours is perfect only I used vanilla extract in mine. Thank you so much I so did not want to go store bought. Also I cut up some cherries from the jar and added them to the frosting before frosting cupcakes. Again thank you.
Jenn@eatcakefordinner says
I would totally eat the entire bowl by the spoonful. I have never bought maraschino cherries before, but I am going to now for this frosting. I actually love store-bought cherry frosting with graham crackers and I know this homemade frosting will be a million times better. Pinned!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Oh Jenn! You simply MUST go get some TODAY 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Mir says
You pretty much had me at “almond extract,” Trish. This frosting is SO amazing! I want it on everything. Sandwiched between sugar cookies, on brownies, on a spoon. You name it!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
The almond extract is just perfect in this frosting recipe Mir – so good with cherry! Thank you!
Gretchen @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
Trish … this is one of those moments where I’m smacking myself in the forehead! This is such a genius idea … and I LOVE cherry flavor! The almond extract is a great addition, too – the perfect maraschino flavor! Delicousssss! 🙂
Connie says
The juice from the cherry jar is one of my favorite ways to color and flavor frosting! Such a cheerful pink color.